OLThe Operator's Lab
Category · Reach

Publishing

Newsletter and publishing platforms for building an audience from zero. Deliverability, pricing at scale, and what breaks past 1,000 subscribers.

Publishing

beehiiv vs. Substack: I Ran a Newsletter on Both

I published the same newsletter on beehiiv and Substack for two months each. Growth tools, deliverability, and what it costs once you actually have subscribers. The gap is bigger than the homepages admit.

Publishing

Ghost vs. WordPress: I Rebuilt My Blog on Both

I ran the same blog on Ghost and on WordPress for a month each. Speed out of the box, the plugin tax, and built-in memberships. If you're starting fresh in 2026, the answer isn't the default everyone assumes.

Publishing

Kit (ConvertKit) vs. Mailchimp: For Creators, Not Corporations

I moved my list off Mailchimp to Kit and ran both for a billing cycle. Automation that a solo creator actually uses, pricing as the list grows, and where Mailchimp still wins. An honest switch story.